Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Eurobelle Rosy’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Eurobelle Rosy’, characterized by its decorative-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped, pink-colored ray florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Eurobelle Rosy’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium and referred to by the name ‘Eurobelle Rosy’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 96717,01/4, not patented. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor on Dec. 21, 2002 as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since January, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Eurobelle Rosy has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Eurobelle Rosy’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Eurobelle Rosy’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Decorative-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped,         pink-colored ray florets; typically grown as a spray-type.     -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Early and uniform flowering response.     -   5. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Ray floret color of plants of the new Chrysanthemum was         darker pink than ray floret color of plants of the parent         selection.     -   2. Under high temperatures, ray floret color of plants of the         new Chrysanthemum was more stable and resisted fading better         than ray floret color of plants of the parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Eurobelle, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,659. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Eurobelle in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were smaller and         darker green in color than leaves of plants of the cultivar         Eurobelle.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had shorter ray florets than         plants of the cultivar Eurobelle.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the parent selection         differed in ray floret coloration as plants of the cultivar         Eurobelle was white.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Eurobelle Rosy’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of upper and lower surfaces of typical inflorescences and typical leaves of ‘Eurobelle Rosy’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer and autumn in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5 to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18.5 to 24° C. and light levels were about five kilolux. Plants were pinched once and were about ten weeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar     Eurobelle Rosy. -   Commercial classification: Decorative-type Chrysanthemum typically     grown as a spray-type cut flower. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary     selection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number     96717,01/4, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 6 days at 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 7 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 14 days at             20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 16 days at             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine and freely branching; light brown in             color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut Chrysanthemum;             typically grown as a spray-type; erect and strong flowering             stems. Moderately vigorous.         -   Flowering stem description.—Length: About 70 to 80 cm.             Diameter: About 6 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent.             Aspect: Erect. Branching habit: Plants are typically grown             as single stems. Color: 146B to 146C.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 9             to 14 cm. Width: About 5 to 8 cm. Apex: Acute. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Pinnately lobed. Texture, upper and lower             surface: Pubescent; rough. Petiole length: About 1 to 4 cm.             Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: 137A to 147A.             Developing foliage, lower surface: 137B to 137C. Fully             expanded foliage, upper surface: 137A to 137B. Fully             expanded foliage, lower surface: 137C to 137D. Venation,             upper and lower surfaces: 137D. Petiole, upper and lower             surfaces: 137D. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative type inflorescence form with             elongated oblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on             terminals above foliage. Disk and ray florets develop             acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences not fragrant.             Typically grown as a spray-type.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant             typically flower in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At             other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and             development can be induced under short day/long night             conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed             to long day/short night conditions after planting followed             by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower             about 7.5 weeks later. Early and uniform flowering response.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Cut inflorescences will maintain             good substance and form for about three weeks.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem.—About 13 to             18 inflorescences per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5 to 7 cm. Depth             (height): About 2 to 3 cm. Diameter of disc: About 3 mm.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 8 to 10 mm. Diameter:             About 1 to 1.3 cm. Shape: Spherical. Color: 146A to 146B.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 1.4 to 3.4 cm. Width: About 1 to             10 mm. Shape: Elongated oblong; incurving. Apex: Praemorse.             Base: Fused; tubular. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray florets per             inflorescence: About 180 in numerous whorls. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: 150D. Fully opened, upper             surface: 69A to 69B; color becoming closer to 69B with             development; towards the base, 145C. Fully opened, lower             surface: Closest to 76D.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; elongated. Length: About 5 mm.             Width: About 1 to 2 mm. Number of disc florets per             inflorescence: About 5. Color: Immature: 145A to 145B.             Mature: Apex: 145A. Mid-section: 155B. Base: 151C.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 9 cm. Length,             fourth peduncle: About 14 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Angle:             About 60° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 137B to 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Anther color: 151B. Pollen color: 23A. Gynoecium:             Present on both ray and disc florets. Stigma length: About             1 mm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma color: Towards             the apex, 151B; towards the vase, 144C to 144D.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known Chrysanthemum pathogens     and pests has not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. 

1. A new and destinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Eurobelle Rosy’, as illustrated and described. 